Comments on: The Mistaken Priority Of Happiness http://www.owlsparks.com/decisions/the-mistaken-priority-of-happiness/ Tue, 07 Sep 2010 09:36:48 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: The Fun Tragedy — OwlSparks | Carlos Miceli http://www.owlsparks.com/decisions/the-mistaken-priority-of-happiness/comment-page-1/#comment-4030 The Fun Tragedy — OwlSparks | Carlos Miceli Fri, 16 Jul 2010 06:39:54 +0000 http://www.owlsparks.com/?p=1538#comment-4030 [...] Here’s Peter’s post on the addiction culture of entertainment. Here’s Cal Newport on the construction of passion and the importance of hard focus. My posts on the limits that context imposes on us and the mistaken priority of happiness. [...] [...] Here’s Peter’s post on the addiction culture of entertainment. Here’s Cal Newport on the construction of passion and the importance of hard focus. My posts on the limits that context imposes on us and the mistaken priority of happiness. [...]

]]> By: everyday beautiful life: a guide to the life you want | {Bits of Beauty} http://www.owlsparks.com/decisions/the-mistaken-priority-of-happiness/comment-page-1/#comment-3748 everyday beautiful life: a guide to the life you want | {Bits of Beauty} Mon, 29 Mar 2010 03:39:26 +0000 http://www.owlsparks.com/?p=1538#comment-3748 [...] a favorite post? Agree? Disagree? Hell, maybe you don’t believe happiness is a good priority. Just leave it below or tweet it with [...] [...] a favorite post? Agree? Disagree? Hell, maybe you don’t believe happiness is a good priority. Just leave it below or tweet it with [...]

]]> By: Carlos Miceli http://www.owlsparks.com/decisions/the-mistaken-priority-of-happiness/comment-page-1/#comment-3077 Carlos Miceli Thu, 25 Feb 2010 03:45:40 +0000 http://www.owlsparks.com/?p=1538#comment-3077 Wow dude, looks like I would have been good friends with Frankl :P Wow dude, looks like I would have been good friends with Frankl :P

]]> By: Carlos Miceli http://www.owlsparks.com/decisions/the-mistaken-priority-of-happiness/comment-page-1/#comment-3076 Carlos Miceli Thu, 25 Feb 2010 03:44:29 +0000 http://www.owlsparks.com/?p=1538#comment-3076 Happy moments exist. Happy lives.... a little bit harder. Happy moments exist. Happy lives…. a little bit harder.

]]> By: Carlos Miceli http://www.owlsparks.com/decisions/the-mistaken-priority-of-happiness/comment-page-1/#comment-3075 Carlos Miceli Thu, 25 Feb 2010 03:43:29 +0000 http://www.owlsparks.com/?p=1538#comment-3075 I'll have to look into the word Joy a little bit more, since it's another one of those that I'm sure every person has a different definition for. I’ll have to look into the word Joy a little bit more, since it’s another one of those that I’m sure every person has a different definition for.

]]> By: Ronnie http://www.owlsparks.com/decisions/the-mistaken-priority-of-happiness/comment-page-1/#comment-3069 Ronnie Wed, 24 Feb 2010 03:14:08 +0000 http://www.owlsparks.com/?p=1538#comment-3069 This a great post Carlos. I've read it like 10 times already and agree with you. Too many people make Happiness a "goal", a target, when in reality, I dont think you measure happiness. Reminds me of a qu0te I loved from Victor Frankl.... if you havnt read his book "Mans search for Meaning", definitely do so. “Don’t aim at success–the more you aim at it and make it a target, the more you are going to miss it. For success, like happiness, cannot be pursued; it must ensue, and it only does so as the unintended side-effect of one’s dedication to a cause greater than oneself or as the by-product of one’s surrender to a person other than oneself.” – Viktor Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning This a great post Carlos. I’ve read it like 10 times already and agree with you. Too many people make Happiness a “goal”, a target, when in reality, I dont think you measure happiness. Reminds me of a qu0te I loved from Victor Frankl…. if you havnt read his book “Mans search for Meaning”, definitely do so.

“Don’t aim at success–the more you aim at it and make it a target, the more you are going to miss it. For success, like happiness, cannot be pursued; it must ensue, and it only does so as the unintended side-effect of one’s dedication to a cause greater than oneself or as the by-product of one’s surrender to a person other than oneself.” – Viktor Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning

]]> By: Tim http://www.owlsparks.com/decisions/the-mistaken-priority-of-happiness/comment-page-1/#comment-3066 Tim Mon, 22 Feb 2010 23:55:10 +0000 http://www.owlsparks.com/?p=1538#comment-3066 Hey! I like using numbered lists too. Today I watched the movies: 1. "Goodbye Solo" -Awesome 2. "Five Easy Pieces" -Amazing 3. "Castle In The Sky" -Incredible And tonight I'm going with a real cool girl to see "The Wolfman." It's been a fantastic media day for me. I don't do it all the time, but I was sick. Got to pass the time somehow. 4. Point being: I'm super happy with what's happened today. Hey! I like using numbered lists too.

Today I watched the movies:

1. “Goodbye Solo”
-Awesome

2. “Five Easy Pieces”
-Amazing

3. “Castle In The Sky”
-Incredible

And tonight I’m going with a real cool girl to see “The Wolfman.”

It’s been a fantastic media day for me. I don’t do it all the time, but I was sick. Got to pass the time somehow.

4. Point being: I’m super happy with what’s happened today.

]]> By: Hani http://www.owlsparks.com/decisions/the-mistaken-priority-of-happiness/comment-page-1/#comment-3065 Hani Mon, 22 Feb 2010 12:12:08 +0000 http://www.owlsparks.com/?p=1538#comment-3065 This is an interesting debate. The search, the pursuit, whatever - of happiness. However happiness is such a slick little word, packaged and marketed well enough that I know I want it, but not understood enough that I know what it entails and means. I never try to search for happiness because this means: 1) I am not already in a state of joy. 2) I am relying on some outside influence to dictate what or how I am feeling. Then of course there is the pressure of being 'happy', like being in any state other than sheer ecstasy is a social fallacy. The amount of times I've been in a state of growling grumpiness have been many (to be honest I've enjoyed having that emotion) and the backlash that comes from being in such an 'undesirable' state is unbelievable. Anyway I digress, the point I'm trying to make (and yes I do have one) is that yes I do agree if you're looking for happiness then you will be disappointed because you are leaving your life to outside influences, however: 1) If you can start relying on yourself (rather than outside influences) and 2) If you can go with the flow of life and take every emotion (yes, even the crappy ones) and see the lesson in them and accepting them as is, then you start moving into the state of Joy.. Which one might say is the same as happiness (it isn't) but Joy is an emotion that comes from within you and is not based on outside influences. Now this, is something that I actively try and practice because not only do i have control over it, I am totally responsible for it. Just saying.. :P This is an interesting debate. The search, the pursuit, whatever – of happiness. However happiness is such a slick little word, packaged and marketed well enough that I know I want it, but not understood enough that I know what it entails and means.
I never try to search for happiness because this means:
1) I am not already in a state of joy.
2) I am relying on some outside influence to dictate what or how I am feeling.
Then of course there is the pressure of being ‘happy’, like being in any state other than sheer ecstasy is a social fallacy.
The amount of times I’ve been in a state of growling grumpiness have been many (to be honest I’ve enjoyed having that emotion) and the backlash that comes from being in such an ‘undesirable’ state is unbelievable.
Anyway I digress, the point I’m trying to make (and yes I do have one) is that yes I do agree if you’re looking for happiness then you will be disappointed because you are leaving your life to outside influences, however:
1) If you can start relying on yourself (rather than outside influences) and
2) If you can go with the flow of life and take every emotion (yes, even the crappy ones) and see the lesson in them and accepting them as is, then you start moving into the state of Joy..
Which one might say is the same as happiness (it isn’t) but Joy is an emotion that comes from within you and is not based on outside influences. Now this, is something that I actively try and practice because not only do i have control over it, I am totally responsible for it.

Just saying.. :P

]]> By: Kyle http://www.owlsparks.com/decisions/the-mistaken-priority-of-happiness/comment-page-1/#comment-3060 Kyle Sat, 20 Feb 2010 00:37:45 +0000 http://www.owlsparks.com/?p=1538#comment-3060 I say "to an extent" because having a goal to be happy isn't inherently bad. I don't think it is a "mistaken priority" as stated in your title. I just think it's a non-specific priority. I've asked several people the question "would you rather be rich or happy?" and they say "Rich. Because if I'm rich, then I'll be happy." (my head then bangs against the table) So, at least if someone picks happiness it's on the right path, instead of equating other things (fame, money, status) as happiness. I say “to an extent” because having a goal to be happy isn’t inherently bad. I don’t think it is a “mistaken priority” as stated in your title. I just think it’s a non-specific priority.

I’ve asked several people the question “would you rather be rich or happy?” and they say “Rich. Because if I’m rich, then I’ll be happy.” (my head then bangs against the table) So, at least if someone picks happiness it’s on the right path, instead of equating other things (fame, money, status) as happiness.

]]> By: Grace Boyle http://www.owlsparks.com/decisions/the-mistaken-priority-of-happiness/comment-page-1/#comment-3054 Grace Boyle Fri, 19 Feb 2010 22:35:56 +0000 http://www.owlsparks.com/?p=1538#comment-3054 Understand the deconstructing bit - makes sense. I'm sure we could go in circles there. I do think that you can have happiness in different layers and parts of your life. My job makes me unhappy (little things that add up, make me unhappy there) but my social life and relationships make me happy. Whether you want to call it the glass half full or empty, there are varying levels of happiness. Also, two words can have the same meaning, frequently which is why we have synonyms: different words with identical or very similar meanings. Understand the deconstructing bit – makes sense. I’m sure we could go in circles there.

I do think that you can have happiness in different layers and parts of your life. My job makes me unhappy (little things that add up, make me unhappy there) but my social life and relationships make me happy. Whether you want to call it the glass half full or empty, there are varying levels of happiness.

Also, two words can have the same meaning, frequently which is why we have synonyms: different words with identical or very similar meanings.

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